Marylands C.J. Brown passes in the third quarter of the NCAA college football game against Syracuse at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. Maryland won 34-20. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) ORG XMIT: NYNL106 less

Marylands C.J. Brown passes in the third quarter of the NCAA college football game against Syracuse at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. Maryland won 34-20. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) ... more

Photo: Nick Lisi

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Marylands Marcus Leak signals for the first down after making a catch in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) ORG XMIT: NYNL105 less

Marylands Marcus Leak signals for the first down after making a catch in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. (AP ... more

Photo: Nick Lisi

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Marylands head coach Randy Edsall looks at the scoreboard late in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) ORG XMIT: NYNL104 less

Marylands head coach Randy Edsall looks at the scoreboard late in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) ORG XMIT: ... more

Photo: Nick Lisi

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Syracuses Ervin Philips runs through the Maryland line in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) ORG XMIT: NYNL102

Syracuses Ervin Philips runs through the Maryland line in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) ORG XMIT: NYNL102

Photo: Nick Lisi

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Marylands Brandon Ross runs past Syracuses Wayne Morgan, center. to score a touchdown in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) ORG XMIT: NYNL103 less

Marylands Brandon Ross runs past Syracuses Wayne Morgan, center. to score a touchdown in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) ... more

Photo: Nick Lisi

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Syracuses head coach Scott Shafer tosses a football before an NCAA college football game against Maryland at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) ORG XMIT: NYNL101 less

Syracuses head coach Scott Shafer tosses a football before an NCAA college football game against Maryland at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) ORG XMIT: ... more

Photo: Nick Lisi

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Syracuse can't get big plays to go its way in defeat

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Syracuse

For Syracuse, it was a game of mistakes and missed opportunities — and in the end a loss.

C.J. Brown threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns, cornerback William Likely returned an interception 88 yards for another score, and Maryland beat Syracuse 34-20 on Saturday.

The Orange (2-1) only could lament what happened and what might have been after outgaining the Terps 589 yards to 369, including 370-89 on the ground: a penalty that negated a Terrel Hunt touchdown run; confusion that led to an 88-yard interception return for a touchdown; a blocked punt that ultimately led to a Maryland touchdown; two near interceptions; and a missed 25-yard field goal.

You name it, it happened.

"It's a game of turnovers, and we know that," Syracuse coach Scott Shafer said. "You have to win the turnover ratio. You have to take care of your protection in the kicking game.

"Usually, you rush for 280 yards more (than your opponent) you have a shot to win, but I look at those fleeting moments, and you've got to come down with the ball. I never felt like we gave ourselves a push in the momentum to get ourselves on track."

Hunt, who added another rushing touchdown with 48 seconds left in the game, gained 156 yards on the ground, becoming the first Syracuse quarterback to run for 100 yards since Donovan McNabb ran for 100 against Miami in 1997. Hunt was 14 for 28 for 219 yards passing.

Prince Tyson-Gulley gained 138 yards, his fourth career 100-yard game and second this season for Syracuse.

Eight penalties for 69 yards, including one that negated a touchdown, killed the Orange.

"We had three big opportunities to turn the game around and didn't make those plays, so it could be a different story," said linebacker Cam Lynch. "They had a few explosive plays on offense and defense, so our job now is to go to the drawing boards and focus on Notre Dame."